'We guarantee it is quite hygienic since it has been processed three times,' said the 45-year-old who has employed four workers since starting the business in 2005.She said her buyers come from different places, including Aceh, Medan, Makassar, Jakarta and even some regions in Kalimantan.

'There's a doctor from Medan who ordered red fruit for his patients,' said the woman who claimed to earn up to Rp 4 million a day.

Another trader, Natalia Wakerwa, said she buys red fruit for about Rp 40,000 from farmers and processes up to 50 fruits to create 100 bottles.

Before the fruit is eaten it is usually cut in half and then into six pieces. It is then boiled. The cooked fruit is squeezed to get the red fruit's oils and juices to come out and the rest of it is disposed.

People later mix cooked taro and tubers with the juice and serve it as the main course of a meal.

Up for grab: Bottled red fruit juice is ready to be sold. JP/Markus Mardius

To make the bottled version, the red fruit should be boiled or cooked for around 1.5 hours to release the oils and juices. The water and pulp are then separated and stored before finally being bottled.

A red fruit trader, Yosephine Pigai, who has a kiosk at Pasar Sentral Baru in Timika, earns up to Rp 20 million a month, which allows her to send her two children to study in Yogyakarta.

A Dani tribe leader, Max Murib, said the red fruit, known as kuansu among Papuans, was believed to increase vitality and cure ailments, such as intestinal worms and skin problems.

'As you can see, Dani people who consume red fruit rarely get sick. They always look fresh and strong even in their 80s,' said the 78-year-old priest who grows around 20 red fruit trees himself.

Health agency head Erens said there was probably no strong scientific evidence about the health benefits of red fruits, but some people have claimed to enjoy its health benefits.

However, a lecturer at Cendrawasih University named I Made Budi MS has already conducted research on the health benefits of the red fruit, contributing to its popularity. In the research, he found that the red fruit contains antioxidants and that those who consume it rarely suffer from degenerative diseases like hypertension, diabetes or heart disease.

'Since the research was put forward in 2005, many have been seeking out the bottled red fruit,' Erens said.